AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She sighed. “He didn’t last two and a half years. Between taking care of him and the farm, the farm took a backseat. The fields went fallow. I only grew enough produce for our own use and took care of the animals the best I could. After he passed, it took me three years to bring the farm production back to where we had it before his diagnosis.”
“You did that all on your own?” Gerard shook his head, impressed at her strength and determination. “Did you ever stop to breathe?”
She shook her head. “No. I focused on the future. It kept me from thinking too much about the past.”
“Ever thought about selling the farm?” he asked. “I can imagine this place is a lot of work. Especially for one person.”
“I’ve had offers. Recent offers.” She frowned. “A company out of Florida has been buying land all around the farm. They want to put in a golf resort and need my place because it’s good, solid ground they could build the actual resort buildings on. Bellamy Acres is smack-dab in the middle of the other tracts. It's the only thing holding them up from moving forward on construction.”
“You said no,” Gerard said.
“What else could I say?” She nodded toward the animals in the field beyond. “This farm was my husband’s. The animals are the children we never had. We’d held off on a family until we got the farm producing. Then Ray got the diagnosis. He said it would be careless and heartless to have children when he carried the gene for ALS. He didn’t wish the condition on anyone, especially any children we might have had.” Her words caught.
Gerard understood Bernie’s husband’s desire not to pass on bad traits to his children all too well. He’d avoided marriage and children for that very reason.
Bernie squared her shoulders. “I didn’t bring you here to feel sorry for me or Bellamy Acres. I asked for help to protect my little family of critters. It’s too late for Gertrude, but I hope it isn’t too late for the others.” She gave him a watery smile. “Let me introduce you to my family.”
“Uh. Okay.” Gerard could see the animals meant a lot to Bernie. Though he had no experience with pets, big or small, he followed her through the gate and into the field.
The herd of creatures all came running at once.
Though the stampede intimidated the hell out of Gerard, he stepped in front of Bernie to protect her from being overrun. Then he cringed, braced himself and prepared to be trampled to death.
Bernie chuckled and placed a gentle hand on his arm. “It’s okay. They won’t hurt us.”
“Are you sure about that?” Even as he asked the question, the animals came to an abrupt halt in front of them.
Bernie stepped around Gerard, reaching out to run her hand along the neck of a light brownish-red llama. “This is Lucy, the llama. She’s a little goofy, but loveable. And here comes Desi.”
The bold, black and white llama strutted up to Bernie, his head held high.
“Desi is flamboyant and cocky,” Bernie said. “Aren’t you, big boy?” she crooned. “I caution all men to avoid looking him in the eye.”
Gerard frowned. “Why?”
“He takes it as a challenge to his dominance.”
“Will he attack?” Gerard looked at Bernie, keeping Desi firmly in his peripheral vision.
“Sort of.” Bernie’s lips quirked. “He spits.” She patted the llama’s neck and fished a carrot out of her pocket. After she broke it in half, she gave one piece to Lucy and the other to Desi. They trotted off to chew their treats, making room for the other animals that were not quite as tall or intimidating.
A soft gray donkey, not much bigger than the hound dog Gerard had seen sleeping on the front porch of the house, nuzzled Bernie’s hand.
She smoothed her fingers over the donkey’s nose and scratched behind its ear. “This is Dom DeLuise, the miniature donkey who thinks he’s a dog.”
“A dog?” Gerard’s eyes narrowed. “How so?”
“Watch.” Bernie held up a carrot. “Sit.”
Dom DeLuise dropped down on his ass.
“Roll over,” Bernie commanded.
The donkey rolled over and jumped up, his tail swishing.
“Good, Dom,” she cooed and gave him the treat.
Dom DeLuise trotted off to munch his carrot.
